Suture protecting and tensioning means for surgical stitching instruments



J. D. KARLE Jan. 21, 1947.

AND TENSIONING MEANS FOR TCHING INSTRUME July 29, 1944 NTS SUTURE PROTECTING SURGICAL STI Filed Patented Jan. 21 1947 hine e Eefl MEANS. -EOR UR STRUMENTIJS John D. Karle, Roselle Par Singer .G ANDQITENSIQNI'NG GICAL STITCHING IN-" k, N. J assigno'rto The Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth.

. N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Apisneansn July 29, 1944, serial No; 547,135"

4 Claims. ((21. lzs -eio) This invention relates to surgical stitching in struments of the type disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,348,218, May 9, 1944, each of which carries a spool of's'utu'ring material and an eye pointed needle to which the "suturing material is directed.

It is common practice'for dealers iii-surgical goods to supply catg'ut suture sterilized and held Within suitable sealed ampoules which are substantially filled witha liquid, such, for example,

as alcohol, which maintains the suture in a'sterile condition and keeps it soft and pliable,

When suchsuture is used in the instrument disclosed in myabo've mentioned patent, it is removed from the ampoule, wound iiitibr a spool and the spoolis placed in instrument. A portion of the suture is then drawn off the spool and the end thereof is passed through the suture guide at thefront end of the instrument ahdis then threaded th ough the eye, or eyes, of theneedleyafter which the instrument and the suture are again sterilize When, during the'perforrnance of an operation, the instrument is handled, that portion of the thread extending between the spool and the needle is exposed andsubje'cted to theaction of aircurrents and therefore tends to {dry and stiffen rather quickly; if, due to delays etc., the. drying and stiffening progresses too far, proper handling of the suture becomes difiicult.

From the foregoing it will beapp'reciated that anything that can be 'don-e to prevent or retard the drying and stifi ening of the suture will be important, as it will facilitate handling of the suture.

This invention therefore has as its primary object to provide improved means for housing the suture in its travel from the spool to the needle, thereby to protect the suture and prevent drying and contamination thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide meansfor controlling and slightly tensioning the suture in its travel from the spool to the sutureguide at the forward end of the instrument.

With the above and other objects in View, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several the spool-holder of the actuating rod features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily iln'derstood'by those skilled in the tart.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a surgical stitching instrument embodying the present invention.

Fig"; 2 is a side View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken substantially 'on't-he liht -B of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View "of a suture retaining element, later to be described, removed from the instrument. I i

Referringrhoi' speeifieally to the drawing, the invention is disclosed as-emcodie in a surgical stitching instrument comprising a main supporting elementor'needle tar "I, of tubular form, to one end of which is secureda-handle 2 by means of which the instrument may be held and manipulated. Upon "n'e' end of the handle there is secured; by a screw aga collar 4 forming a part of a bracket 5. The bra'elietfi carries a spoolcase 6 in which is iotatablyineunted a spool" I. The spool has wound there-0s suitable suture s for use with the instriime'rit. The screw 3, which secures the collar 4 to th'e'handle, also secures the handle to the needle-bani. Means, not shown, is provided for ln'cking the spool against rotation and and this means may be'released bythumb ressure on the cap ii'ut 2.1.- I'nasmucn the means for locking and releasing the spool forms no part of this invention and is fully shown and described my "above mentioned Patent Ne. 2,348,218, detailed illustfation and des ription thereof herein is deemed unnecessary.

At its free end, the needle-bar I carries a fixed needle-clamping jaw 8 with which cooperates a movable clamping jaw 9 to grip the shank of the needle 71. The jaw 9 is carried by a needle-clamp Iii, which extends through the instrument and which is shifted axially, to cause the jaws to grip the needle, by a manually rotatable nut l8 at the rear end of the handle, substantially the same as shown in my above mentioned patent.

To house the suture in its travel from the spool to the needle, means is provided whereby the suture may be caused to enter the tubular needlebar adjacent the spool-holder, to extend lengthwise of the instrument within the needle-bar and to emerge from the needle-bar adjacent theneedle. This means comprises a suture inlet 3 aperture H in the needle-bar i adjacent the spool-holder, a suture outlet aperture [2 in the needle-bar adjacent the needle-clamp, and a helical slot I3 extending through the wall of the needle-bar and connecting said apertures.

Secured to the needle-bar, as by screw [4, is a sheet metal suture-retaining element i5 having, at one end, an off-set retaining finger l6 which overlies the slot l3 adjacent the aperture H. The'opposite end of the element I5 is bifurcated and comprises an off-set retaining finger II which overlies the slot I3 adjacent the aperture l2, and a finger l8 between which and the finger I1 is provided a suture guiding throat l9. From the throat It, the suture extends to the eye, or eyes, of the needle. The outer ends of the fingers l6 and ii are preferably spaced slightly from the surface of the needle-ban: to facilitate drawing of the suture thereunder. r

In threading the suture through the instrument the suture, extending from the spool 1 through a slot 6 in the spool-holder 6, is drawn under the finger Iii and into aperture ll. The'suture is then drawn lengthwise of the instrument and given one turn about the longitudinal axis thereof, thus Causing the suture to pass through the helical slot [3 and be wrapped once about the needleclamp actuating rod l0. suture also causes it to be drawn under the retaining finger I! and through the outletaperture I2, after which the end thereof is threaded through the eye, or eyes, of the needle.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that This movement of the this invention provides simple and convenient 1 means for housing the major portion of the suture between the spool and the needle within the tubular needle-bar, thereby protecting it against contamination and against the drying action of air currents.

It will also be understood that, inasmuch as the suture is wrapped about the needle-clamp actuating rod, it will be held against lateral movement relative to the instrument and will also have a slight tension applied thereto which will aid in the control of the suture.

. Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what I claim herein is:

t 1. In a surgical stitching instrument having a hollow needle-bar, a needle-clamp at one end thereof, a needle-clamp actuating rod extending through said needle-bar and connected with said needle-clamp, and a spool-holder carried by the instrument adjacent said needle-bar remote from said needle-clamp and carrying a spool of suture; the improvement which consists in the provision in said needle-bar of a helical slot extending through the wall thereof from adjacent said spool-holder to adjacent said needle-clamp and providing for the lateral passing of a suture from saidsp'ool into and out of said needle-bar at axially spaced points and for the wrapping of said suture about said rod. 1

2. In a surgical stitching instrument comprising a hollow needle-bar, a needle-clamp at one end thereof, and a spool-holder carried by the instrument adjacent said needle-bar remote from said needle-clamp and carrying-a spool of suture; the improvement which consists in the provision in said needle-bar of a helical slot extending through the Wall thereof from adjacent said spool-holder to adjacent said needle-clamp and providing for laterally passing a suture, drawn from said spool, into and out of said needle-bar at axially spaced points, and means including elements disposed internally and externally of said needle-bar for confining a portion of the length of the suture within the needle-bar.

3. In a surgical stitching instrument having a hollow needle-bar, a needle-clamp at one end thereof, and a spool-holder located remote from the needle-clamp and carrying a spool of suturing material; the improvement which consists in the provision in said needle-bar of a radial suture inlet aperture adjacent said spool-holder and ,a radial suture outlet aperture adjacent said needle, said apertures being substantially aligned axially of the needle-bar, and a helical slot in the wall of said needle-bar connecting said apertures to permit a portion of a suture carried by said spool to be passed laterally to the inside of said needlebar adjacent said spool-holder and laterally to the outside of said needle-bar adjacent said needle, and means within said needle-bar to retain said suture inside said needle-bar intermediate said apertures and to apply a slight tension to said suture. I

l. A surgical stitching instrument comprising a hollow needle-bar provided with a helical slot extending through the wall thereof, a spoolholder supported adjacent one end of said slot t and at one side of said'needle-bar and carrying a spool of suture, aneedle-clamp carried by said needle-bar adjacent the other endof said slot, said slot affording means providing for lateral introduction of a suture into said needle-bar adjacent said spool-holder and lateral withdrawal therefrom adjacent said needle-clamp, and a rod extending lengthwise within said needle-bar and spaced from the inner surface thereof and adapted to have the suture wrapped thereabout to hold said suture within said needle-bar intermediate the ends, of said slot and to produce a slight tension on the suture. g

" JOHN D. KARLE. 

